“I think you’re going to see him start to get some reps,” Kubiak said of Molden. “Whether it’s this week , I don’t know yet. It’s time for guys like him and (safety Dominique) Barber to get in the mix.”

Molden and Barber have played well on special teams.

“I’d think there comes a point where you see him (Molden) out there defensively,” Kubiak said. “He’s a small-school (Eastern Kentucky) kid trying to make his way through pro football.

“He’s made progress, but I haven’t felt like he’s been ready to play on that island. We can also protect him a little with what we do.”

Injury update

Outside linebacker Morlon Greenwood (fibula) and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye (ankle) did not participate in any part of Wednesday’s practice.

Receiver Andr&#233; Davis (finger) was limited.

If Greenwood can’t play against the Colts on Sunday, he’ll be replaced by rookie Xavier Adibi or veteran Chaun Thompson.

“This football team can make you play a lot of nickel, too, so if he (Greenwood) is down, Xavier is going to play a bunch,” coach Gary Kubiak said.

Playing against quarter-back Peyton Manning and his receivers is going to be a baptism by fire for Adibi, a lot tougher than facing the Ravens’ passing game.

“It’s going to be exciting for me, somebody that I’ve been watching ever since I’ve been in high school,” Adibi said. “It’s just my chance to showcase what I can do. I’m still rusty, but I’ve been studying my playbook, so I’ve got the plays down. It’s just a lot of technique stuff that I’ve got to get down.”

Second time around

There’s no rest for the rookie. Left tackle Duane Brown gets Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney after facing Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen in the last two weeks.

At least Brown has played against Freeney this season.

“This will probably be the toughest game of the season, considering the environment and his pass-rushing ability,” Brown said.

Brown played well against Freeney, who had one sack, in the Colts’ 31-27 victory Oct. 5.

When you're 3-6 your team is in the middle of a lost season with no playoff
chances remaing but only one practicle benefit to be gained - getting the rooks and other inexperienced players some real season reps - what's best for the teams long-term is bound to clash with a struggling coachs need to play vets and eck out wins to save his job.

When you're 3-6 your team is in the middle of a lost season with no playoff
chances remaing but only one practicle benefit to be gained - getting the rooks and other inexperienced players some real season reps - what's best for the teams long-term is bound to clash with a struggling coachs need to play vets and eck out wins to save his job.

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Could the rookies really play any worse than the vets at this point? Was there that much of a dropoff with Adibi in there?

Personally, I don't give a damn WHO they play, since we seem to be the training ground for players as well as coaches, as long as they BEAT THE FRIGGIN TITANS!! THis year is history anyway, so is that to much to ask??!! SURE, beating the Jags on MNF would be nice, but, I could take a 100-0 loss to them if we could only take the Titans down on Dec 14th!!!!! I could sit back and grin, and MAYBE say "this year was worth it all anyway!!!"

Of course, it's gonna take our HC getting his sheeeet together and NOT allowing himself to be OUT COACHED again!!!

OK, what sort of injury, aside from a fracture, would they list as "fibula"? There's not much else you can do to the fibula. If it was dislocated from the knee of ankle, they'd list it as knee or ankle. Since when do they get so precise with the injury site without likewise being specific about the injury? I mean, if they listed "ACL", wouldn't we all know it's torn?

The thing bothering me with this is I get the feeling we wouldn't be seeing our last round of draft picks if not for a couple of injuries. That's no way to progress. Identify bad: Morlon Greenwood. Identify possible solution: Xavier Adibi. Implement change. It's okay if you judge Adibi based on his performance too, I just doubt that would happen because Greenwood made it this far. Psyched for the new guys though, can't wait to see them play. I just wish it was by choice instead of by need because now we need them to play against one of (if not the) best QB of this generation.

OK, what sort of injury, aside from a fracture, would they list as "fibula"? There's not much else you can do to the fibula. If it was dislocated from the knee of ankle, they'd list it as knee or ankle. Since when do they get so precise with the injury site without likewise being specific about the injury? I mean, if they listed "ACL", wouldn't we all know it's torn?

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I've not seen any report that classifies Greenwood's injury as anything but an "ankle strain." It could be referring to the ligaments affecting the connection between the ankle bones and fibula. If he does indeed have a true fibula stress fracture, it requires 3-8 weeks of rest. The lower on the fibula, the longer the rest required. If the the diagnosis is delayed, or if the player tries to play through the injury, further trauma and longer recovery period is likely. Also continued play could result in nonunion of the fracture with chronic consequences.

Even though Greenwood's initial x-rays were negative for fracture, stress fractures of the fibula may not show up on x-ray for 8 weeks.

Could the rookies really play any worse than the vets at this point? Was there that much of a dropoff with Adibi in there?

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It also seems that Adibi would be a better match up. He has a little more foot speed, and they arent as likly to be physical upfront, like Minnisota and Baltimore. Moulden, I can kind of understand. A rookie DB against Manning, thats a rough match up. SS should be the only one really tweeked, since Wilson has been on the Pats teams that gave Manning fits. Harrison and Barber can split reps with Fergison. I also think Saalam should start, with Brown playing every 3rd series. He did ok last time, but this is in Indy.

We're going to wait until after we play against "super backup" Gus Ferrotte and rookie Lsensation" Joe Flacco to play our rookie corner? Specifically, we're going to wait until we play against Peyton freakin Manning in his house?